Rem Offshore announced today a contract has been signed with VARD for the design and construction of a new immensely powerful offshore construction and anchor handling vessel with a bollard pull capacity of 400 tons.

Holger Dilling, Executive Vice President of Investor Relations at VARD notes in a phone call that this vessel, a VARD 2 o6 design, will be one of the most powerful anchor handling vessels in the world and is aimed at supporting ultra-deepwater operations worldwide. He notes the ship will be powered by a hybrid diesel-electric power plant, but he could not provide further specifications on the manufacturer.

The vessel comes at a total contract price of NOK 800 million and will feature an A-frame as well as a 150-ton active heave compensated offshore crane and accommodations for 90.

Vard notes the hull of the vessel will be built at Vard Tulcea in Romania and then shipped to Vard Brattvaag in Norway for final outfitting. Delivery is planned for 1Q 2016.

Rendering via VARD

Arild Skram from Rem Offshore notes the vessel will have two 4MW main engines and two 2.2 MW auxiliary engines powering a hybrid-electric power plant.

The vessel will be DP2-equipped and have two main propulsion shafts driven by an electric motor fed by the main engines with boost capabilities from the auxiliaries. A pair of tunnel thrusters fore and aft and a retractable thruster on the bow will also be outfitted.